The student news source of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

The Racquet Press

The student news source of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

The Racquet Press

The student news source of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

The Racquet Press

Bylaws

Below you will find The Racquet Press’ bylaws. Any questions or concerns can be directed to [email protected].

BYLAWS

The Racquet Press– UWL’s Student News Source 

The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse  

SECTION 1 

The Head Editors of The Racquet Press shall consist of one (1) executive editor and one (1) managing editor. 

SECTION 2  

  • Powers and Duties of Officers are found under “Position Guidebooks” in The Racquet Press Google Drive Page. 

SECTION 3 

Qualifications necessary to hold Head Editor positions at The Racquet Press are as follows:  

  • University of Wisconsin – La Crosse policies require that to be eligible for Head Editors, candidates must be in good academic and disciplinary standing and regularly enrolled students at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Additionally, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA to be eligible to hold a Head Editor position.
  • No member may hold more than one office. No member may serve more than two years in their position.
  • Head Editors will be elected by the previous editors in charge and not appointed by the Student Association. The Racquet Press has full control over staffing and editorial decisions.

SECTION 4 

University Advisor(s)  

  • The advisor shall fulfill the responsibilities specified in the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Student Organizations Handbook. Advisors shall serve on an academic year basis or until their successor has been selected.  
  • The advisor will be appointed by the Head Editors.
  • In the case of poor performance, the Head Editors can ask for a new advisor.

SECTION 5 

Meetings 

  • Regular staff meetings shall be weekly. 
  • Special meetings may be called by the Head Editors. All members must be given a minimum of 24 hours’ notice prior to the meeting time.  

SECTION 6

Comment Moderation 

  • The Racquet Press has full control over moderating comments on social media platforms and the website. Since our website platform allows us to approve comments, it is our job to do so. For other social media comments, comments that are untruthful or that work to either: defame, harass, or cause liability issues to The Racquet Press will be deleted. Any comments that also work to insult someone on basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability will be deleted.
  • It is the executive editor’s job to observe comment posting.

 SECTION 7  

Finances  

  • The Advertising Director will be paid 15 percent commission and a biweekly rate of 40 dollars, Business Manager will be paid 60 dollars biweekly, Executive Editor will be paid 130 dollars biweekly, Managing Editor will be paid 130 dollars biweekly, Multimedia Editor and Assistant Editor will be paid 70 dollars biweekly, and all reporters will be paid 48 dollars biweekly  
  • Staff will be paid via WINGS and must set up a financial aid refund request  

SECTION 8

Dissolution  

  • Upon the dissolution of The Racquet Press for any reason, all work, merchandise, and property controlled by the organization will maintain a separate entity from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and controlled by the most recent Executive Editor. This is excluding the University office and technology.  

SECTION 9

Non-Hazing Clause  

  • The laws of the state of Wisconsin concerning hazing shall be observed. 
  • Hazing shall be defined as participating in or allowing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act that creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person. A forced or coerced activity shall also be considered hazing when the initiation or administration into, or continued affiliation with, a university organization is directly or indirectly conditional upon performing the activity. In no event shall the willingness of an individual to participate in such an activity serve as a defense in cases of hazing.  
  • Actions and activities, which are explicitly prohibited include, but shall not be limited to the following: i. Any activity that creates a substantial risk of physical or mental harm. ii. Paddling, beating, or hitting individuals. iii. Wearing anything designed to be degrading or to cause discomfort. iv. Depriving individuals of the opportunity to obtain a minimum of six hours of sleep per day, proper and adequate means, or access to means of maintaining body cleanliness. v. Activities that interfere with an individual’s academic efforts by causing exhaustion of loss of reasonable study time.  

SECTION 10 

Termination  

  • Any positions are subject to termination for poor performance  
  • Termination will be determined by current editing staff but ultimately the Head Editors  

SECTION 11  

Vacancy of Position  

  • In case of resignation or removal of any position, a new member will either be promoted, or The Racquet Press will seek out employment opportunities. 
  • Each semester staff will be evaluated by Head Editors and either be terminated, maintained, or promoted.

SECTION 12

 Amendments  

  • Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented to the Head Editors, in writing, one meeting prior to the meeting where the amendment will be voted upon.  
  • Under the protection of title recognition, the title “Executive Editor” shall remain indefinitely and “Editor-In-Chief” will no longer be instituted. This has been decided because of respect to Indigenous Peoples’ and the prior triggering nature of the title. 
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